Adjustable windrow assembly for an agricultural vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9894837-B2
Application number	US-201314038082-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2013
Priority date	Oct 4, 2012
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis and a windrow assembly carried by the chassis. The windrow assembly includes a windrow chute and a width adjustment device operatively mounted to the windrow chute. The windrow chute includes a discharge panel and a pair of side walls attached and movable relative to the discharge panel. The width adjustment device includes a manual adjustment member mounted to the discharge panel, and a pair of linkages with each linkage interconnecting between the manual adjustment member and a respective side wall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An agricultural vehicle, comprising:
a chassis; and
a windrow assembly carried by said chassis, said windrow assembly including a windrow chute and a width adjustment device operatively mounted to said windrow chute, said windrow chute including a discharge panel and a pair of side walls attached and movable relative to said discharge panel, said pair of side walls defining a width of said windrow chute therebetween, said width adjustment device including a manual adjustment member rotatably or slidably mounted to said discharge panel, and a pair of linkages with each said linkage interconnecting between said manual adjustment member and a respective said side wall such that rotation or sliding of said manual adjustment member relative to said discharge panel causes a change in said width of said windrow chute, each of said side walls comprising a first portion and a second portion connected and extending transversely to said first portion, each said first portion overlapping a respective side edge of said discharge panel to form a generally continuous surface with said discharge panel.

2. The agricultural vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said manual adjustment member comprises a plate.

3. The agricultural vehicle of claim 2 , wherein said plate includes a handle extending therefrom.

4. The agricultural vehicle of claim 2 , further including a detent arrangement associated with said plate for holding said plate in a selected position.

5. The agricultural vehicle of claim 4 , wherein said detent arrangement includes a plurality of notches formed in said plate, and a spring loaded projection positioned adjacent to said plate.

6. The agricultural vehicle of claim 5 , wherein said plurality of notches are formed in an edge of said plate.

7. The agricultural vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each said side wall has a generally L-shaped cross section with an inlet end which is pivotally attached to said discharge panel and a discharge end which is movable laterally inward and outward relative to said discharge panel, and further including at least one slide member which is attached to said discharge panel and holds said side walls adjacent to said discharge panel during said laterally inward and outward movement.

8. The agricultural vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said windrow chute is positioned in an inverted position with said discharge panel at a bottom of said windrow chute, and said side walls extending upwardly from said discharge panel.

9. The agricultural vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each said linkage includes a friction reducing member on a side adjacent to said discharge panel.

10. The agricultural vehicle of claim 9 , wherein said each said friction reducing member is a nylon strip or plastic strip.

11. The agricultural vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each said linkage is attached at opposite ends with said manual adjustment member and a respective said side wall using fasteners.

12. The agricultural vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said agricultural vehicle is a combine.

13. A windrow assembly for use on an agricultural vehicle, said windrow assembly comprising:
a windrow chute including a discharge panel and a pair of side walls attached and movable relative to said discharge panel, said pair of side walls defining a width of said windrow chute therebetween; and
a width adjustment device including a manual adjustment member rotatably or slidably mounted to said discharge panel, and a pair of linkages with each said linkage interconnecting between said manual adjustment member and a respective said side wall such that rotation or sliding of said manual adjustment member relative to said discharge panel causes a change in said width of said windrow chute, each of said side walls comprising a first portion and a second portion connected and extending transversely to said first portion, each said first portion overlapping a respective side edge of said discharge panel to form a generally continuous surface with said discharge panel.

14. The windrow assembly of claim 13 , wherein said manual adjustment member comprises a plate.

15. The windrow assembly of claim 14 , wherein said plate includes a handle extending therefrom.

16. The windrow assembly of claim 14 , further including a detent arrangement associated with said plate for holding said plate in a selected position.

17. The windrow assembly of claim 16 , wherein said detent arrangement includes a plurality of notches formed in said plate, and a spring loaded projection positioned adjacent to said plate.

18. The windrow assembly of claim 13 , wherein each said side wall has a generally L-shaped cross section with an inlet end which is pivotally attached to said discharge panel and a discharge end which is movable laterally inward and outward relative to said discharge panel, and further including at least one slide member which is attached to said discharge panel and holds said side walls adjacent to said discharge panel during said laterally inward and outward movement.

19. The windrow assembly of claim 13 , wherein said windrow chute is positioned in an inverted position with said discharge panel at a bottom of said windrow chute, and said side walls extending upwardly from said discharge panel.

20. The windrow assembly of claim 13 , wherein each said linkage includes a friction reducing member on a side adjacent to said discharge panel.

Assignees

• Cnh America Llc
• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Estock Nicholas A
• Isaac Nathan E

Classifications

• Y10T74/20

  Control lever and linkage systems · CPC title

• A01D41/1243 Primary

  Devices for laying-out or distributing the straw · CPC title

• A01D43/06 Primary

  with means for collecting, gathering or loading mown material {(A01D43/086 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• Y10T74/20396

  Hand operated · CPC title